Select any startup items that are essential for testing the problem (for example, acrotray.exe is essential if you are testing issues related to creating PDF files with Acrobat). If you are unsure whether an item is essential, leave it deselected (disabled).

Click the Services tab, and select Hide All Microsoft Services.

Select Disable All, and then reselect any services that are essential for testing the problem (for example, acrotray.exe if you are testing issues related to creating PDF files with Acrobat). If you are unsure whether an item is essential, leave it deselected (disabled).

Important: Reenable the FLEXnet Licensing Service if you are troubleshooting an Adobe product. The FlexNET Licensing Service is required for most Adobe products. If it is not enabled, your Adobe product can't launch.

Click Apply, and restart Windows for the changes to take effect.

Note: Upon restart, you are notified that the System Configuration utility has changed and Windows starts up. Click OK. When the System Configuration utility appears, click Cancel.

Right-click icons in the Notification Area and close or disable any startup items that are still active.

Reenable startup items and services

Choose Start, type msconfig in the Search text box, and press Enter.

Click the General tab, and choose Normal Startup.

Deselect any items that you wrote down in step 3 of the previous section.